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Mrs. Carten holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education (N-4th grade) from James Madison University.  She has taught grades K-8 in public and Christian schools, and home school.  She served as Assistant to the Principal for three years at Christian Assembly Academy.  She was a certified P.A.C.E. (Processing and Cognitive Enhancement) instructor, working one-on-one with children to improve their processing skills.  She is a worship leader in her church and serves with her husband, John, on the church board of Elders.  They have four children, three in college, and a daughter in 11th grade.
Administrative Office
Becky Nestor
Office Manager
Natalie Zink
Bookkeeper
Lori Henry
AD Director
Ted Saunders
Facility Manager
Gail Carten co-teaches 3rd/4th Grades, and elementary music, middle school chorus, and high school praise band.
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Dr. C. Michael Reed
Headmaster, Northern Virginia Christian Academy

Dr. Reed has spent 27 years in Christian education, most recently as the School Director of Grace Brethren Christian School in Clinton, Maryland.  Dr. Reed brings to NVCA his talents in strategic planning, budget development and management, program development and accreditation and curriculum supervision.  Dr. Reed has also been intimately involved in the accreditation process, both as a school administrator and as a member of the accreditation teams of ACSI and the Middle States Accrediting Association for Colleges and Schools.

Dr. Reed began his career as a teacher at Camp Springs Christian School (CSCS) in Maryland.  After serving as a teacher and administrator at CSCS for seven (7) years, Dr. Reed became Headmaster of Perry Hall Christian School in Perry Hall, Maryland.  He was able to provide this young K-12 school the guidance it needed to develop the appropriate mission, vision, and strategic plan for moving the school forward into the future.

Dr. Reed’s next assignment was at Riverdale Baptist School (RBS) in Largo, Maryland.  While serving the Lord at Riverdale Baptist, he successfully guided the high school through the Middle States Accreditation process.  Dr. Reed was able to lead the school through the process of upgrading the academic program of both the middle and high schools with the addition of Honors and AP courses.  He also was able to successfully help the school develop a middle school/high school configuration with separate principals and staff.


In his most recent position as School Director of Grace Brethren, Dr. Reed successfully:

  • Oversaw enrollment growth from 456 to 650 students in grades K-12
  • Spearheaded and managed a plan that successfully eliminated $1,700,000 of debt
  • Developed competitive programs for the visual and performing arts. This included three bands, one marching band, three choirs, an annual theatrical production and an annual art show.
  • Established a service program that annually sent seven teams of students on short-term mission trips.
  • Established a Home School Umbrella program that served 125 home school students.
  • Developed and managed the program that raised $1,000,000 to complete the renovation of the school building.
  • Guided the school through the maintenance process of ACSI and Middle States accreditation.
  • Developed the “Discovery Therapy” program to meet the academic needs of 50 students.

After retiring in 2003, Dr. Reed enjoyed the many opportunities to do consulting and assist with the establishing of a Christian high school.  Prior to serving the Lord in Christian School Education, Dr Reed was a Pastor for 11 years.  His educational background includes a Doctor of Ministry (1981) from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, Portland, Oregon; a Master of Christian School Administration (1986) and a Master of Divinity (1968) from Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana; and a Bachelor of Pastoral Theology (1965) from Philadelphia Biblical University, Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Reed and his wife, Kari, live in Centreville, VA. His two daughters and their families including four grandchildren, live in the Washington, D.C. area.


Mrs. Coffey earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Seattle Pacific University.  She is currently licensed to teach Kindergarten-12th Grade through the Department of Education and ACSI.  For the last 25 years, she has taught General Music, Choir, Concert Band and has served as Chairman of ACSI Music Festivals while living on the west coast. Mrs. Coffey comes to us from Summit Christian Academy where she served as the Music Director for the past four years.  As a volunteer Mrs. Coffey has helped run the Children's Choir and serves on the leadership team of the Women’s Community Bible Study at McLean Bible Church.   She and her husband have two children, one in graduate school and one in high school.
Lorna Coffey teaches Concert Band.  
Mrs. Cooper earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Reading University in England.  She spent an additional year studying at Davidson College in North Carolina where she met her husband and embarked on a twenty year adventure as a military spouse.  She obtained a Master's Degree in Education from St. Mary College in Kansas.   Mrs. Cooper has scored the essay portion of the SAT for the College Board and is a licensed massage therapist.
Lulu Cooper teaches 11th & 12th Grade English Literature
Betsy Dill, professional illustrator and published author, studied art at Virginia Commonwealth University.   She has over 25 years experience working with newspapers, ad agencies, and PBS-TV. She is director of a Christian writing organization in the DC area, illustrated two children's picture books, and has been published in Guideposts magazine and Hallmark's Laughing Out Loud, among others.  After ten years of sharing her passion for art and creative writing with young people, she considers teaching her most rewarding work.  Ms. Dill lives in Centreville, VA.


Betsy Dill teaches Studio Art, 3-D Design, Middle School & Elementary Art.
Mrs. Jeschke graduated from University of Virginia as a Phi Beta Kappa with an honors degree in English Literature, a minor in history, and licensure in secondary education for English and Drama.  She is currently working on her MA in English Literature at George Mason University and studied at the University of Oxford last summer.  Mrs. Jeschke taught English in the public schools for several years before home-schooling her nine children.   She has written a series of novels called The Oxford Chronicles (including Inklings, Expectations, and Evasions) as well as numerous travel articles.  Her latest novel Jillian Dare (Revell), a contemporary adaptation of Jane Eyre, was released May, 2009.  A frequent lecturer on writing, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien, Melanie taught the writers' workshop for the C.S. Lewis Foundation's national conference in San Diego and served on staff for their triennial conferences in Oxford and Cambridge.  Mrs. Jeschke lives in Vienna, VA, with her children and her husband, Bill Jeschke, a travel soccer coach and the Senior Pastor of The King's Chapel.
(website: www.inklingsauthor.com).


Melanie Jeschke teaches 10th Grade British Literature.
Mrs. Henry was a stockbroker for 14 years being licensed with the New York and American Stock Exchanges and the NASD/NASDAQ.  She  has been teaching Microsoft Office applications to Kindergarten through Twelfth graders for the past nine years.  She has also taught elementary and middle school keyboarding using the touch typing method.  This year she teaches elementary age students how to use Microsoft Office programs, middle school students the touch typing keyboard method and 12th graders the Microsoft Office Suite with the seniors working on their college application process. She is a lifelong resident of Fairfax where she resides with her husband and son, a 2008 NVCA graduate and now a sophomore honors student at George Mason University.  Mrs. Henry enjoys traveling with her family during the summer.
Lori Henry teaches Computer Class to grades K-4, Keyboarding to grades 5-8 and Microsoft Office Suite to grade 12.
Miss Kerber holds a Bachelor's Degree in Adolescents and Young Adult Integrated Social Studies Education from Cedarville University and is in the process of attaining her Master’s in Counseling from Liberty University.   She has taught Elementary Physical Education and History for the past three years and has spent the last six summers serving as a counselor and Program Director at a camp in Michigan.  Miss Kerber enjoys exercising, playing sports, camping, outdoor rock climbing, skiing, and a campfire with good friends.  Miss Kerber lives in Fairfax, VA.


Korie Kerber teaches World History I, Psychology, 5th-6th Social Studies, and Physical Education to Kindergarten through 8th grade.
Mrs. MacPherson has a B.S. degree in Biology from St. Lawrence University in N.Y., and has pursued continuing education credits through Fairfax County Public Schools and ACSI courses. This is Mrs. MacPherson's sixth year teaching kindergarten, and her second year at NVCA.  Prior to teaching Kindergarten, Mrs. MacPherson worked seven years for Fairfax County Public Schools with students with learning disabilities in grades 4 – 6 and assisted with full-day kindergarten. She has always had a passion for working with children of all ages.   At her church she taught Sunday School, directed a children's choir, and led groups of teens on mission trips. Currently Mrs. MacPherson serves weekly in the infant nursery at Fairfax Community Church, and is  a home team member for a teen serve project for 100 youths from across the country each summer.  She loves teaching little ones how to read, write, have fun, and most importantly, enter into a close, loving relationship with Jesus Christ. Her goal is to shine God's love and truth to God's precious little ones!  Mrs. MacPherson and her husband live in Fairfax Station, VA and have five children ranging in ages from  6 th grade to adult.
Dale MacPherson teaches Kindergarten. 
Mr. McElfresh holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from George Mason University and a Master's Degree in Chemistry from University of Pittsburgh.  Mr. McElfresh has received several awards and honors to include the Miles-Baeyer Fellowship, Sophomore Chemistry Award, Hyman I. Feinstein Award for Chemistry Excellence, and was part of the Virginia Scholars Program and a National Merit Scholars Program Finalist.  He has taught both at the college and high school levels for thirteen years.  Mr. McElfresh has also coached High School Basketball and Soccer.   He and his wife live in Manassas, VA.
David McElfresh teaches Chemistry, A.P. Chemistry, A.P. Calculus, Physics and Economics.

Mrs. McGinness holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and English from Bob Jones University and a Master of Education, specializing in History from Bob Jones University. Mrs. McGinness home-schooled for 12 years, during which time she also taught elementary, junior high, and high school classes in a local homeschool co-op.  She has taught all levels of science, focusing on high school science for the past 7 years. Her dual passions are to ignite in her students a life-long curiosity and love of learning and a hunger for the Word of God. Her primary outside interest is writing. She has regularly supplied articles for commercial, editorial, devotional, and advertising publications. For the past two decades, she and her husband Jim, a graphic artist, have been involved in the publishing of several ministry newsletters. In stolen moments, she may be found reading English and American poetry. Mrs. McGinness and her husband live in Fairfax, VA, with their three teens and an evil cat.

Suzanne McGinness teaches Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Physical Science, and Geosystems.
Miss Parks holds a Bachelor's degree in History from Grove City College and is working towards a Master’s degree in Applied History/Museum Studies from George Mason University. She holds a teaching license from Pennsylvania in both middle and high school social studies. Prior to coming to NVCA, she taught history in a public school system in western North Carolina. In her time outside of teaching and graduate school, she plays drums in a Scottish band and is very active in her church. She lives in Falls Church, VA.


Laura Parks teaches AP U.S. History, AP Government, U.S. History, U.S. Government, and Yearbook.
Mrs. Platt holds a Bachelor's degree in Bible/Theology from Asbury College. She received her licensure in Elementary Education (PK-6) as well as her Master's in Education from George Mason University. Mrs. Platt and her husband lived in China for 3 ½ years, where she taught English as a Foreign Language, studied Chinese, and taught fifth grade at Wuhan Yangtze International School. In her free time, Mrs. Platt loves reading, biking, traveling, learning about new cultures, and going hiking in Washington State, where she grew up. She and her husband live in Fairfax, VA.


Annie Platt teaches 2nd Grade. 
Mr. Saliba graduated from Washington Bible College with a BA degree in Biblical Studies.  He then studied Arabic while living in Amman, Jordan for a year where he was able to visit the historic cities of Cairo, Damascus, Bethlehem and Jerusalem.  In 2006, he completed a nine month fellowship with the National Center for Leadership in DC. He serves at an Arabic Baptist Church in DC and is active in the Arabic Christian community, primarily as a teacher and conference speaker.  Mr. Saliba enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, coffee shops, and discovering God's wonders in nature.  He is an enthusiastic Redskins and Wizards fan and enjoys playing all types of sports.  Mr. Saliba taught elementary through high school at a classical Christian school for seven years before coming to NVCA.  This is Mr. Saliba's third year at NVCA. 


Nader Saliba teaches Bible, History and Arabic.
Mr. Singley holds a Bachelor's degree in Commerce and Engineering from Drexel University.  Since retiring in 2000, after 32 years with Exxon Mobil, he has been teaching Algebra I.  As a 5 year Navy veteran, Mr. Singley served as a Naval Flight Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, from 1963-1968.  Through his church, Mr. Singley teaches a Men's Bible Study.  He enjoys motorcycling and racquetball and is an enthusiastic Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles fan.  He and his wife of 41 years live in Fairfax Station and have 4 grandchildren.  Mr. Singley's two sons both graduated from Bethlehem Christian Academy and the College of William and Mary. His oldest son is a partner in a DC law firm and his younger son is a Navy doctor now serving in Okinawa.


Phil Singley teaches Algebra I.
Mrs. Alex-Watson holds an Education Degree K - 12 with a minor in Mathematics and Computer Science from James Madison University.   She has taught various grade levels over the last twenty-two years.  Mrs. Watson is also a CNA/PCA and is currently working towards a nursing degree. She enjoys walking, weight-lifting, traveling and cooking. She currently resides in Manassas, VA.
Linda Alex-Watson teaches 5th and 6th Grade Math, Pre-Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra II.
K4 through 12th grade
Kara Tobaben teaches 3rd - 4th grade Language Arts. 
Mrs. Tobaben holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education (K-8th grade) from Concordia College, Nebraska and a Master of Education degree from Texas Wesleyan University.  Prior to coming to NVCA she taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grades in both California and Texas for 8 years.  She also served as choir director, athletic coach, and cheer advisor.  Most recently she has been focused on raising her son (2nd grade) and daughter (Kindergarten), but she is very excited to be back in the classroom.  She also enjoys being outside, leading/attending Bible studies and volunteering at her church.
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Dawn Geschiere teachers 1st grade.
Mrs. Geschiere earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary and Special Education from Calvin College. She taught second grade for two and a half years before staying home to raise a family. When her youngest turned three years old Mrs. Geschiere returned to the classroom where she taught first grade in Christian school for eight years. During her family's recent years in Michigan she facilitated trainings, led programs and spoke during spiritual encouragement weeks while she worked for a non-profit youth ministry agency. In addition to spending time with her family, Mrs. Geschiere continues to speak at retreats, camps and SERVE projects during the summer. She has also written and taught several women's Bible studies. She currently lives on a farm in Midland, Virginia, with her husband and 8th grade daughter, where they are settling in after moving here from Michigan this summer. Mrs. Geschiere has four older children living in different states to attend college or work. She loves to cook, read, write, walk and get together with family and friends.
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Brett Jeschke teaches 11th and 12th Grade Bible.
Mr. Jeschke earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from James Madison University.  He spent two years on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ helping to launch new ministries at American University, Georgetown University, and the University of the District of Columbia in our nation's capital.  Mr. Jeschke worked for Dominion Christian School in Oakton for one year, teaching Physical Education for Kindergarten through Eighth grade.  He has a passion for history and for the Bible, as well as a deep heart for young people.  Mr. Jeschke grew up in Vienna and Fairfax and has been married to his wife Barbee for over a year.


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Beth Sadler teaches 5th - 6th Grade Language Arts, 7th - 9th Grade English
Miss Sadler has a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature with a creative writing emphasis from Millsaps College in Jackson, MS. She is currently in the process of pursuing her Master's Degree in English Literature from George Mason University. She has also had the opportunity to study French literature in Nice, France, as well as medieval literature during a summer semester at Oxford University. She has worked with children in many different capacities over the years, including as a camp counselor, cheerleading coach, and dance teacher. This is her second year teaching in an academic setting. While she is passionate about reading great literature and writing, she is equally as passionate about helping young readers and writers learn to express themselves and understand the world around them.
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Elaine Porter teaches Pre-Calculus to grades 11-12.
Mrs. Porter holds two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in Mathematics from St. Thomas Aquinas College and one in Electrical Engineering from George Washington University.  She has worked as an engineer for the Naval Research Laboratory in DC for 15 years prior to starting a family with her husband, Bill.  She has been a Girl Scout volunteer and leader for the last three years with her daughter, Ariana Marie (10).  She takes Tae Kwon Do lessons with Bill and all three of their children (Ariana (10), Nikolas (8), and Leon (5)).  It is a family affair!  She attends Bible study with Bill at their church, St. Katherine's Greek Orthodox, Falls Church.
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Amie Whitmore teaches 5th and 6th grade Bible and Science.
Mrs. Whitmore holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Houghton College in Educational Ministries, and minored in Bible and music.  Prior to coming to NVCA she home schooled her 3 children.  Mrs. Whitmore is characterized by creativity and thinking outside the box to engage her students in life long learning.  She designed a unit study on the Chesapeake Bay last year leading the charge in doing a watershed clean up of Accotink Creek.  The class also grew submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the classroom and then had the pleasure of planting it in Mason Neck Bay.  Besides teaching she leads a monthly worship time for women called Throne Room at her church.  Mrs. Whitmore and her family live in Clifton.


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Paula Sloan teaches Theater. 
Mrs. Sloan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater from Liberty University and a Masters of Education from Lynchburg College.  She has taught High School Theater and Yearbook Journalism as well as third grade.  She has also taught ESL for several years.  Mrs. Sloan is also very involved with USA Gymnastics and serves as the State Chair for Virginia.  Mrs. Sloan moved to Springfield in the summer of  ’08 so her children could train at Capital Gymnastics in Burke.  She enjoys being at the gym with her children and traveling across the country and around the world for their different competitions.  She also loves to read, scrapbook and camp with her family.
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